Whats the score with fan films?

[Ki-Ki]

I've had this thought for a while now of creating a internet based series based off a tv show, or this fan film based off a novel series. Does anyone know what the deal is if you want to get grants or potential sponsors for it? Is it actually possible?

Also, has anyone here actually worked on a project for a fan film. Any advice, feedback or information would be most interesting.

Cheers

[Barry_Green]

You're saying you want to develop a for-profit venture that's based on someone else's work? I'm pretty sure you'll find that's a dead end route. At least U.S. copyright laws dictate that the original copyright holder holds all rights to "derivative works", and any "fan film" that uses the universe, characters, situations, settings etc. of an existing work would be classified as a derivative work.

Which means you don't own nothin', the company that owns the rights to the original work would own the rights to your work. So that puts you in a really bad position.

Your only hope at legitimacy would be to try to negotiate with the rightsholders of the original work, to try to stake out some territory. Tell 'em what you're planning and see if they'll work with you.

[Jon Starr]

There are some right holders that are more open with their work. George Lucas as an example. Not only does he allow fan films, he holds a huge contest every year for them.

However I've heard of fan films that have gotten a seize and deicest (sp?) letter from lawyers. However, in those cases, it seemed as though they were selling DVDs of the fan film.

With all the issues of copyright laws, I highly doubt you can get grants, and the investors would probably have to be private, if they're willing. I think they had private investors for fan films such as Batman: Dead End.

It's very limiting. I was working on a Star Wars fan film once (never made it past 2 shooting weekends), but you have to fund it all yourself usually, as I did. Not to mention you can't submit it to much.

Then again, if people like the original source, you'll have more hits on youtube and the net. Look at Ryan vs Dorkman. It got Ryan a job at Lucas Arts, then when he got laid off I'm not sure what was next, but I believe he did some special effects for Heros, and recently won an award for it.

[Barry_Green]

There are some right holders that are more open with their work. George Lucas as an example. Not only does he allow fan films, he holds a huge contest every year for them.
Yes, and I even made one and entered it in said contests. But -- try and create your own Star Wars series and see what happens!


seize and deicest (sp?)
Cease and desist.

[J.R. Hudson]

Better yet

Make your own series and reap the bene's.

[Ki-Ki]

One of the ideas was to base it off Fox's 24. Set in the British Isles - CTU London. It would be a nice little concept to do. Though the whole concept of weapons, props, sets and special effects bumps the price up slowly.

Fox has a pretty cool and down to earth team working on 24, but when it even comes to contacting them to see if it were possible to make something based off it. That's another matter, even as far as contacting them the closest email i got is 24@fox.com

The idea would be to release it a month or so after Season 7 has ended, so after people have time to recover from the show. If there interested a fan series would be starting, and it would end in the autumn.

[Captain Pierce]

Honestly, Ki-Ki, having seen a little bit about this idea of yours up in the Screenwriting forum, I think you'd be limiting yourself by trying to tie it into 24. IMO, you'd be better off to keep it original, and maybe even make a joke or two about how "this isn't CTU" (as Torchwood did with something about "CSI Cardiff" in their pilot).